HONG KONG, Jan 30 — The Hong Kong government is pressing ahead with expanding the controversial national security legislation in the Chinese special administrative region, reported the German News Agency (dpa).
Chief executive John Lee presented details for a local national security law today, and announced the start of public consultations for the law by February 28.
The introduction of a security law for the Chinese Special Administrative Region was already provided for in the Hong Kong Constitution, which has been in force since the city was returned to China in 1997.
However, the government failed to implement it for a long time due to considerable resistance from the population.
In response to mass protests favouring more democracy, Beijing intervened in 2020 and introduced its own national security law for Hong Kong. This law was also controversial, with critics considering it a tool against the pro-democracy opposition.
Since the crackdown on the protests, numerous activists have fled abroad or been sentenced to prison.
Hong Kong leadership said the local security law that is now being sought is necessary as the law already implemented by Beijing does not yet fulfil all the points prescribed by the Hong Kong Constitution.
The security law from 2020 was aimed at combating secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. The new law would cover treason, sedition and theft of state secrets.
On July 1, 1997, the former British crown colony was returned to China and has since been governed according to the principle of “one country, two systems”.
This agreement actually provides for Hong Kongers to enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” until 2047, 50 years after the UK rule ended.
— Bernama
